Afghanistan Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Afghanistan's youth unemployment was 16.79% in 2025, ranked 118th globally. This represents a 2.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Afghanistan's youth unemployment stood at 16.79% in 2025, a decline of +0.45pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 17.39% by 2026. Afghanistan ranked 118th globally.
Afghanistan’s youth unemployment rate has risen steadily over the 35‑year series, climbing from 10.23 % in 1991 to a peak of 17.54 % in 2022 before easing slightly to 16.79 % in 2025, placing the country 118th out of 190 economies in the World Bank ranking. The trough in 2010, when the rate fell to 10.04 %, coincided with a brief period of relative political stability and modest economic growth, but subsequent conflict and fiscal constraints have driven the indicator upward. Compared with peers of similar rank, Afghanistan’s 2025 level is marginally higher than Croatia’s 16.47 % and Bhutan’s 17.05 %, reflecting comparable structural challenges in labor markets across low‑income contexts. The persistence of high informal employment, limited private‑sector expansion, and ongoing security concerns suggest that without targeted skill‑development programs and investment in productive industries, the youth unemployment rate is likely to remain elevated, though modest policy reforms could temper the upward trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 17.63% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 17.51% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 17.39% | - | - |
| 2025 | 16.79% | −0.45pp | #118 |
| 2024 | 17.24% | −0.26pp | #119 |
| 2023 | 17.49% | −0.05pp | #123 |
| 2022 | 17.54% | +1.53pp | #116 |
| 2021 | 16.01% | −0.04pp | #100 |
| 2020 | 16.05% | +0.53pp | #100 |
| 2019 | 15.52% | −0.88pp | #109 |
| 2018 | 16.40% | −0.91pp | #112 |
| 2017 | 17.31% | +2.38pp | #112 |
| 2016 | 14.93% | +2.40pp | #96 |
| 2015 | 12.53% | +2.44pp | #82 |
| 2014 | 10.09% | −0.01pp | #67 |
| 2013 | 10.10% | +0.03pp | #71 |
| 2012 | 10.07% | +0.03pp | #70 |
| 2011 | 10.04% | +0.00pp | #69 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Afghanistan matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2022. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Afghanistan's youth unemployment was 16.79% in 2025. Ranked 118th globally. This represents a 2.6% decrease from the previous year.
Afghanistan's youth unemployment peaked at 17.54% in 2022.
The lowest youth unemployment in Afghanistan was 10.04% in 2010.
Afghanistan ranks 118th globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Afghanistan's youth unemployment is projected to reach 17.39% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Afghanistan in 2025 was 16.79%. This ranks 118th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_afghanistan_youth-unemployment,
title = {Afghanistan Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/afghanistan/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}